Drain mounted hydrotherapeutic apparatus for bathtub



THTUB R.- L. GUILER Oct. 10,1967

DRAIN MOUNTED HYDROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS FOR BA 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept.

v INVENTOR ROBERT L. GUILER vndrus Starkg A-KfomvEY's Oct 0, 1967 R GUILER 3,345,982

DRAIN MOUNTED HYDROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS FOR BATHTUB Filed Sept. 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q I, INVENTOR- I 1 ROBERT L. GUILER 32 BY 43 j ndrus Stark Affom/evs United States Patent 3,345,982 DRAIN MOUNTED HYDROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS FOR BATHTUB Robert L. Guiler, Delavan, Wis., assignor to Sta-Rite Products, Inc., Delavan, Wis., a corporation of Wiscousin Filed Sept. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 396,911 5 Claims. (Cl.12866) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to a hydrotherapeutic unit which is associated with a bathtub or water tank. The pump and motor are permanently installed outside of the tub while a nozzle assembly is removably connected in .the tub drain. The water piping is arranged so that the water is supplied from the pump to the nozzle, and returned from the tub to the pump through the drain opening in the tub.

A drain line is connected to the return line to the pump and the drain line is controlled by a manual waste valve. The discharge or supply line from the pump is sloped toward the pump, while the return line is sloped from the pump to the drain line so that when the waste valve is open and the pump is stopped, water which is in the supply line and return line will flow by gravity to the drain line to be discharged to the sewer. 1

This invention relates to a hydro-therapeutic apparatus to be installed in a bathtub or other water tank.

A whirlpool or hydrotherapeutic bath is used for the treatment or relief of sore muscles, arthritis, neuritis, or rheumatic conditions. The conventional hydrotherapeutic unit includes a motor driven pump, and the outlet of the pump is connected to a nozzle assembly which is located beneath the water level in the tank. Water is ejected under high pressure through the nozzle assembly bythe pump and is directed against the portion of the body undergoing treatment. I

In one common type of hydrotherapeutic unit, the entire unit, including the motor and pump, is located in thetank or tub in contact with the water. With units of this type, the electrical connections to the motor have to be positively insulated to prevent shorting, and in some cases, people are reluctant to use a unit of this type knowing the inherent danger involved in operating an electrical device in water.

In another common type of hydrotherapeutic unit, the

. motor and pump are located outside of the tank while the nozzle assembly is located within the tank and is connected to the pump by long hoses. A unit of this type,

when used with a household bathtub, requires assembly and disassembly at the start and completion of each period of use. Furthermore, the entire unit including the long hoses, must be handled and stored during periods of nonuse.

The present invention is directed to a hydrotherapeutic unit which is associated with a standard bathtub or other water tank. According to the invention, the pump and motor are permanently installed outside of the tub, while the nozzle assembly is removably connected in the tub drain. The water piping is connected through the tub drain so that water is supplied to the nozzle assembly and withdrawn from the tub in a continuous cycle through the drain opening in the tub.

More specifically, the pump and motor are mounted on a wall or between the floor joists outside of the tub, and a water supply line connects the outlet of the pump to a riser which extends upwardly within the drain opening of the tub and is connected to the nozzle assembly.

3,345,982 Patented Oct. 10, 1967 A water return line connects the drain opening in the tub to the pump inlet.

In addition, a sewer drain line is connected to the return line and the sewer drain line is controlled by a manual waste valve. When the waste valve is closed and the pump is operating, water is supplied through the riser to the nozzle assembly and discharged at a high velocity within the tub. Water is returned through the drain and return line to the pump so that the water travels in a continuous cycle.

When it is desired to drain the tub, the pump is stopped and the manual waste valve is opened. The water then flows from the tub through the drain opening and then through the return line to the sewer line.

The nozzle assembly can be completely removed from the tub when the hydrotherapeutic unit is not being used so that there is no obstruction in the tub which will interfere with normal usage of the tub.

In addition, the nozzle assembly is provided with a hand controlled valve which regulates the flow of water through the nOZZle and thereby controls the force of the ejected water.

The hydrotherapeutic apparatus of the invention can be used with bathtubs, tanks, pools, or the like. It has particular application to household bathtubs and can be installedv with the tub during construction of the home or can be installed with existing tubs without modifying or altering the tub.

As the pump and motor are located outside of the tub, there is no danger to the user by virtue of possible electrical shorting.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course i the floor joists with alternate positions of the pump and motor shown-in phantom; and FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a hydrotherapeutic unit associated with a standard bathtub 1. The hydrotherapeutic unit, in

.general, includes a nozzle assembly 2 which is located within the tub and water is supplied to the nozzle assembly by a motor-pump unit, indicated generally by 3, which is mounted on the wall 4 of the home or building.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the bathtub 1 is provide-d with a standard drain opening 5 which is bordered by a depressed flange or shoulder 6. An outwardly extending flange 7 of a drainpipe 8 rests on the shoulder 6 of the tub and the lower end of the pipe 8 is threaded within an opening in an elbow 9. The upper end of the elbow 9 is sealed with respect to the tub 1 by the annular seal 10 which is located between the elbow and the lower surface of the shoulder 6.

.A cup-shaped wall 11 is formed on the inner surface of the elbow 9 and a riser 12 is secured within the upper open end of the wall 11. Riser 12 extends upwardly through the drain opening 5 and projects within the tub I. The nozzle assembly 2 is removably connected to the riser 12 and the riser serves to conduct water into the nozzle assembly.

The nozzle assembly 2 includes a nozzle body 13 having a vertical tubular section 14 which is located around together by a leaf spring 17. As best shown in FIG. 3 one end of the leaf spring 17 is secured to the inner wall of the riser 12 and the opposite end of the leaf spring is connected to the pin 15. The leaf spring 17 tends to urge the pin 15 radially outward through the slot 16 to connect the body 13 to the riser. Due to the slit 16, the nozzle body 13 can be rotated about the axis of the riser to change the direction of discharge of water from the nozzle assembly.

A nozzle or ejector 18 is mounted within the nozzle body 13 and is provided with a discharge end of reduced diameter. Water passing through the nozzle body 13 is forced outwardly through the reduced nozzle 18 to thereby increase the velocity of the water and draw air into the nozzle body through a standpipe 19 which is secured within a flange on the nozzle body adjacent the outlet of the nozzle 18.

The upper end of the pipe 19 extends above the water level in the tub and is enclosed by a cap 20. Air is drawn into the pipe 19 through a series of air inlet holes 21 formed in the upper end of the pipe and passes downwardly within the pipe to the nozzle 18.

A discharge tube 22 is secured within the outer end of the nozzle body 13 and the aerated water is discharged through the tube 22 into the body of water within the tub.

The relative amounts of water and air which are discharged through the nozzle assembly can be controlled by a manually operated valve disc 23 which serves to regulate the amount of water flowing into the nozzle 18. The valve disc 23 is carried by a valve stem 24 which is threaded within a plug 25 mounted in the annular flange 26 of nozzle body 13. The upper end of the stem 24 is provided with a hand knob 27 through which the stem can be rotated to thereby vary the vertical position of the valve disc 23. Varying the position of valve disc 23 controls the flow of water through the upper end of riser 12.

Water is supplied to theriser 12 through a supply pipe 28 which communicates with the chamber defined by the wall 11. The opposite end of the supply pipe 28 is connected to the outlet of a centrifugal pump 29* which is driven by a motor 30.

After being discharged through nozzle 18, the water is returned to the pump 29 through a return pipe 31 which is connected between the lower end of the elbow 9 and the inlet of the pump 29.

In addition the lower, end of the elbow 9 is connected by pipe 32 to a waste fitting 33. The waste fitting 33 defines a valve seat 34 which is adapted to be closed off by a standard gate valve 35.

Thevalve 35 is opened and closed by actuating a waste control lever 36 which is mounted on the wall of the tub 1. The lever 36 is secured to a shaft 37 which is journalled within plate 38 which covers an opening in the wall of the tub. The shaft 37 is connected to a crank arm 39 which in turn is secured to the upper end of a rod 40. The lower end of the rod 40 is connected to an adjustable threaded rod 41, and the lower end of the rod 41 is connected through link 42 to the valve 35. With this linkage, rotation of the waste control lever 36 will move the valve 35 upwardly and downwardly to thereby open and close the waste line 43 of fitting 33. The lower end of waste line 43 of the fitting 33 is threaded and is adapted to be connected to a soil pipe, not shown.

The linkage which connects the waste control lever 36 and the valve 35 is enclosed by an elbow 44, secured to the back surface of the tub, and by a conduit 45 which is connected between the elbow 44 and the waste fitting 33.

When it is desired to use the hydrotherapeutic device, the nozzle assembly 2 is assembled in the tub by depressing pin 15 and inserting the tubular section 14 over the upper end of the riser 12. The locking pin 15 will hold the members in the assembled position. With the valve 35 in the closed position, water is permitted to enter the tub until it reaches the desired level which is above the nozzle 18 and below the upper end of the air standpipe 19. The motor 30 is then operated to drive the pump 29 and draw water through the drain opening 5 and return line 31 to the suction side of the pump. Water is discharged by the pump 29 through the supply line 28, riser 12 and is ejected through the nozzle 18. By adjusting the valve disc 23 by hand knob 27, the relative amounts of water and air can be regulated as desired.

When it is desired to drain the tub, the pump motor 30 is turned off and the valve 35 is opened by actuating the waste control lever 36. The water within the tub 1 then drains downwardly through opening 5 and elbow 9 to pipe 32 .and through the waste fitting 33 to the soil pipe. In addition, the water within the riser 12 will flow by gravity through the supply line 28 to the pump 29 due to the fact that the supply line 28, as shown in FIG. 2, is inclined toward the pump. The water will then drain through the pump and will flow through the return line 31 to the elbow 9. Again, the return line 31 is slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal so that water will drain out of the pump 29 to the elbow 9 and then into the waste fitting 33 to the soil pipe. This insures that all of the water which has been circulated during the period of operation of the device will be completely removed from the nozzle assembly, the piping and the pump.

After the water has been drained from the unit, the nozzle assembly 2 can be removed by pushing the pin 15 inwardly and drawing the nozzle section 14 upwardly out of engagement with the riser 12. A suitable screen or perforated member can be snapped in place over the upper end of the riser to provide an enclosure for the drain opening 5, if desired.

As both the pump 29 and the motor 30 are located outside of the tub, the present unit eliminates the inherent danger which accompanies a device in which the motor and pump are located within the water in the tub. In addition, the piping is installed solely in conjunction with the standard drain outlet in the tub and no modification or alteration of the tub is necessary. Thus, the unit can be installed in new construction, or it can be adapted for use with existing bathtubs.

Moreover, the storage and handling problem which normally accompanies the use of a conventional hydrotherapeutic device are virtually eliminated. As the pump and motor and piping are permanently located outside of the tub, the only element which need be removed is the small nozzle assembly, which is merely slipped off of the riser in the drain opening. This substantially simplifies the assembly of the unit before each period of usage,- and also simplifies the storage and handling problem, for the only element which is required to be stored or handled is the nozzle assembly.

The nozzle assembly itself can be rotated in a horizontal plane to control the direction of discharge of the aerated water. In addition, the relative proportions of air and water can be readily adjusted by use of the manually operated valve 23.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a modified form of the invention in which the pump 29 and motor 30 are mounted between the floor joists beneath the tub rather than being mounted on the wall studs as in the first embodiment. As the pump 29 is located a substantial level beneath the tub 1, drainpipe 8 is not connected directly to elbow 9, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, but instead is threaded within an adapter 46 and a pipe 47 is secured within aligned openings in adapter 46 and elbow 9. A riser 48, corresponding to riser 12 of the first embodiment, is connected within the open upper end of wall 11 of the elbow 9 and extends upwardly through the adapter 46 and projects into the tub I in a manner similar to that described with respect to riser 12. The

adapter is provided with an internal supporting ring 49 and provides rigidity for the long riser 48.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 operates in the identical manner to that previously described, with water being supplied through the supply pipe 28 and flowing upwardly through the riser 48 to the nozzle assembly 2. Water from the tub drains downwardly through the drain opening 5, the adapter 46 and pipe 47 into the elbow 9 and then passes through the return line 31 to the inlet of the pump 29 in a manner previously described.

While the above description shows the hydrotherapeutic unit used in conjunction with a bathtub, it is contemplated that the unit can also be associated with a drain opening of any type of tank, pool, or the like, and the unit can be employed either for household, hospital, or recreational use.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. A hydrotherapeutic apparatus, comprising a tub having an opening therein, a nozzle assembly removably connected to said opening and extending within the tub, a pump located outside of the tub, driving means for driving the pump and located outside of the tub, return conduit means connecting the opening with the inlet of the pump for conducting water from the tub to the pump, supply conduit means connecting the outlet of the pump with the nozzle assembly for supplying water to said nozzle assembly, said nozzle assembly including a discharge nozzle and having means for mixing air with water being discharged by said discharge nozzle, drain conduit means connecting said opening with a disposal site and communicating with said return conduit means for conducting waste water from the tub to said disposal site, and valve means disposed in said drain conduit means for selectively opening and closing said drain conduit means, said supply conduit means sloping in a direction from the nozzle assembly to said pump whereby water will flow toward the pump when the pump is stopped and said return conduit means sloping in a direction from the pump to said drain conduit means whereby water within the pump will flow to said drain conduit means when the operation of the pump is stopped.

2. A hydrotherapeutic apparatus, comprising a bathtub having a drain outlet in the bottom portion thereof, a nozzle assembly removably connected to said drain outlet and extending within the tub, pumping means located outside of the tub, a drain line connecting the drain opening to a sewage line, a valve located in the drain line for selectively opening and closing said drain line, a return line having one end connected to the drain line at a location between said drain opening and said valve and the other end connected to the inlet of said pumping means, a supply line having one end connected to the outlet of said pumping means and the other end communicating with said drain opening, said return line communicating with the drain line at a location spaced above the bottom of said drain line and said return line sloping in a direction from said pumping means to said drain line whereby water from said pumping means will flow through said return line and into the drain line when operation of the pumping means is stopped.

'3. The structure of claim 2 in which the supply line is sloped in a direction from said drain opening to the outlet of said pumping means whereby water in said supply line will drain to the pumping means when operation of the pumping means is terminated.

4. In a hydrotherapeutic apparatus, a tub to contain liquid and having a drain opening in the bottom thereof, a riser extending upwardly through the drain opening into the tub and serving to introduce liquid to said tub, return conduit means communicating with said drain opening for withdrawing liquid from said tub, a nozzle assembly having an inlet tube slidably connected to the riser, said nozzle assembly including a discharge nozzle and having means for mixing air with the liquid being discharged by said discharge nozzle, and means for mounting the nozzle assembly for movement in a horizontal plane relative to said riser.

5. The structure of claim 4 and including a valve located between said inlet tube and said discharge nozzle and a hand knob is operably connected to said valve and serves to open and close the valve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,159,849 12/1964 Jacuzzi 4-180 3,287,741 11/1966 Nash 4180 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

L. W. TRAPP, Examiner. 

4. IN A HYDROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS, A TUB TO CONTAIN LIQUID AND HAVING A DRAIN OPENING IN THE BOTTOM THEREOF, A RISER EXTENDING UPWARDLY THROUGH THE DRAIN OPENING INTO THE TUB AND SERVING TO INTRODUCE LIQUID TO SAID TUB, RETURN CONDUIT MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID DRAIN OPENING FOR WITHDRAWING LIQUID FROM SAID TUB, A NOZZLE ASSEMBLY HAVING AN INLET TUBE SLIDABLY CONNECTED TO THE RISER, SAID NOZZLE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A DISCHARGE NOZZLE AND HAVING MEANS FOR MIXING AIR WITH THE LIQUID BEING DISCHARGED BY SAID DISCHARGE NOZZLE, AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE NOZZLE ASSEMBLY FOR MOVEMENT IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE RELATIVE TO SAID RISER. 